Introduction: Walk the dog type cigar baits like the famous Zara Spook are a favorite amongst bass anglers. There's just something about that quiet little bait swimming from side to side on the surface eliciting a big strike that really gets your blood flowing. In recent years, Black Dog Bait's Lunker Punker inspired an entirely new experience with a big bait that had a similar motion but only more pronounced with large glides from side to side. But sometimes, that Punker is just too big to toss all day long, and the Spook baits, too small. Evergreen International has a solution. Introducing their big topwater bait, the Amazon.

Evergreen International AmazonSpecifications

Type

Cigar

Length

160mm (~6.4")

Weight

1 1/2 oz

Material

Plastic

Hooks

3 #1 size hooks

Colors

8

MSRP

~$20

Quality/Construction:
Evergreen International's Amazon is an oversized cigar type topwater bait measuring six inches in length. It is a plastic bait with very intricate finishes and a fair amount of detailing around the bait's head. It comes with relatively stout hardware and each of our baits were very well crafted.

Quality Ratings for Evergreen International Amazon

Finish (1-5)

Detailing (1-5)

Hardware (1-5)

Craftsmanship (1-5)

Total

Possible

Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)

5

4

4

5

18

20

9.0

Introducing Evergreen International's Amazon topwater bait.

Performance:
I've had this bait for many years and had been waiting to write it up for just one more trip to Brazil and the Amazon before writing it up, but those trips just haven't panned out over the last couple of years due to adverse water conditions. This bait is best on a heavy powered rod. Among my favorites for this bait are Megabass ARMS A7006X and the F6-72X4 Destruction.

Our first experience with this bait? Why in the Amazon of course!

Castability : The Amazon is a good sized bait with a good heft to it so it should be easy to cast just from that. Evergreen International takes no chances and provides this bait with a moving balance system that gives the Amazon even more castability than it would have naturally. This bait sails through the air on target with ease. It's a really fun bait to cast especially with a rod like the F6-76X4 Destruction!

We
swapped out the stock hooks for stronger ones only because we expected to catch
some beasts in the Amazon with this bait.

Ease of Actuation : But what's even better is on splash down, after all the ripples have passed by, this bait is as easy they come walk and that's with straight braid or mono tied directly to the bait. Fluorocarbon doesn't work too well because it sinks and will foul the hooks.

It comes stock with three hooks as you can see the unused hook
loop in the middle.

Quality of Movement : The Amazon moves from side to side like a traditional cigar bait walking and not gliding like the Punker. Given its size, one might assume its degree of movement would be more, but it is not. This bait has a very tight and predictable movement.

Not exactly the beast we had hoped for, but the bite wasn't right
for this type of bait on that trip.

Position at Rest : At rest on the surface, the Amazon's tail is slightly submerged and the head peaks out from about the middle of its body forward. On that first twitch of the rod tip, the bait is pulled forward and the tail comes up but goes right back down on slack line.

Performance Ratings for Evergreen International Amazon

Castability (1-5)

Ease of Actuation(1-5)

Quality of Movement (1-5)

Position at Rest (1-5)

Durability (1-5)

Total

Possible

Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)

5

5

4

4

5

23

25

9.2

The Amazon behaves like a traditional cigar bait, but of course, it has much better detailing than most baits of this type.

Features: The Amazon is not built with an internal harness nor is it a bait that can be fished amongst the weeds very successfully. It does contain internal brass rattles that double as the moving balancing system and is available in a number of finishes that include solid, chrome/foil, and ghost patterns.

Features Ratingsfor Evergreen International Amazon

Internal Harness (1-3)

Weedlessness (1-3)

No. Finishes (1-3)

Miscellaneous (1-3)

Total

Possible

Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)

1

1

3

2

7

12

5.83

As close as we can get to Peacock bass back home on the Delta.

Design/Ergonomics: I've only have a couple of these baits but the consistency between the two I have is very good. These baits are ready to go right out of the packaging. While the weight of this bait might throw some people off, I find it's perfect for those extra long casts.

Design & Ergonomics Ratingsfor Evergreen International Amazon

Bait to Bait Consistency (1-5)

Weight (1-5)

Realism (1-5)

Available Sizes (1-3)

Total

Possible

Rating (= Tot/Pos * 10)

5

5

3

1

14

18

7.78

Looking forward to another trip to this place hopefully before long.

Application: Evergreen International's Amazon is a big topwater plug probably intended for larger game like musky, pike, and peacock bass, but don't be intimidated, largemouth will crush this bait too. It's smaller than a Lunker Punker afterall!

Conclusion: Now for the not-so-great news. For some reason, the Amazon, by Evergreen International, doesn't seem to be part of the distribution agreement they have with Daiwa, as the bait does not appear at any of our partnered tackle stores. You can find them if you search hard enough on the Internet, but it's always nice to have a trusted, local resource considering Evergreen is officially back in the US Market. But perhaps that's a blessing in disguise - the harder it is to get this great little bait means the less the fish will see of it giving you the advantage if you're resourceful enough to acquire them. Sounds to me like a recipe for our Ultimate Enthusiast Award!